{{Infobox mountain pass | name = Homs Gap | other_name = فتحة حمص | photo = Hims Gap sat.jpg | photo_caption = | elevation = | traversed = | location = Homs Governorate, Syria | range = Al-Ansariyah mountains, Anti-Lebanon Mountains | coordinates = {{coord|34.7| 36.343|display=inline,title|region:SY_type:landmark}} | topo = }}
The '''Homs Gap''' ({{langx|ar|فتحة حمص}}) (also called the '''Akkar Gap''' and known in Arabic as '''al-Buqay'a''') is a relatively flat passage in the Orontes River Valley of southern Syria. Nicknamed the "gateway to Syria,"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=157307 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722035205/http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=157307 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-07-22 |title=Citadel Qal'at al-Hosn (Crac des Chevaliers) |year=2009 |publisher=Whatsonwhen |accessdate=2009-03-04 }}</ref> the gap separates the An-Nusayriyah Mountains and Jabal Zawiya from the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains. The small Nahr al-Kabir river runs down the Gap to the Syrian coast into the Mediterranean Sea at Arida.<ref name="crac">{{cite web|url=http://www.syria.org.cn/torism/destinations/cracdes.htm|title=Crac Des Chevaliers|year=2005|publisher=Syria.org.cn|accessdate=2009-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512042024/http://www.syria.org.cn/torism/destinations/cracdes.htm|archive-date=2008-05-12|url-status=dead}}</ref>
For hundreds of years, traders and invaders have found the Homs Gap an important route from the coast to the country's interior and to other parts of Asia because it "provides the easiest access between the Mediterranean coast and the Syrian interior."<ref>{{cite book|last=Akkermans|first=Peter M. M. G.|author2=Glenn M. Schwartz|title=The Archaeology of Syria |publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2003|pages=3–4|isbn=9780521796668|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_4oqvpAHDEoC&q=Homs+gap&pg=PA4|accessdate=2009-03-03}}</ref> The gap is also the only large crossing open year-round across the mountain ranges.<ref name="crac"/>
Today, the highway and railroad in Homs to the Lebanese port of Tripoli run through the gap.<ref>{{cite book|last=Research Divi Federal Research Division, Federal Research Division|title=Syria a Country Study |publisher=Kessinger Publishing|year=2004|pages=74|chapter=Land, Water and Climate|isbn= 9781419150227|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B9L9ZWtnYsgC&q=Homs+gap&pg=PA74}}</ref> A pipeline carrying oil also runs through the gap.<ref>{{cite book|last=Carter|first=Terry|author2=Lara Dunston |author3=Andrew Humphreys |author4=Damien Simonis |title=Syria & Lebanon|publisher=Lonely Planet|year=2004|pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781864503333/page/132 132]|isbn=9781864503333|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781864503333|url-access=registration|quote=Homs gap.}}</ref> In addition, the Krak des Chevaliers castle is in the Homs Gap.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kacmac.com/cities/homs/krakdeschevaliers/|title=KacMac - Syria Guide: Krak Des Chevaliers |year=2004|publisher=KacMac|accessdate=2009-03-04}}</ref> The castle was built in 1031 AD to guard the strategic passageway during the First Crusade, and changed hands several times during the rest of the Crusades.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ring|first=Trudy|author2=Robert M. Salkin |author3=Sharon La Boda |title=International Dictionary of Historic Places|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=1994|pages=439|isbn=9781884964039|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R44VRnNCzAYC&q=Homs+gap&pg=RA1-PA439}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
Category:Valleys of Syria Category:Trade routes Category:Homs Governorate Category:Mountain passes of Syria